Federal probe expands to more states in genital mutilation investigation

A federal investigation into Muslim doctors performing female genital mutilation on children in Michigan and Minnesota has now spread to three additional states – California, Illinois and New York.

The Detroit News reported Tuesday that additional targets being investigated for the illegal procedure live in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City.

A Detroit emergency room doctor, Jumana Nagarwala, was charged in April and is still being held without bail. She was arrested at a Detroit airport in April while attempting to fly to Kenya, where her two daughters are reportedly attending school.

Nagarwala’s lawyer, Shannon Smith, reportedly wrote in a court filing on Tuesday of additional targets under investigation in Los Angeles, Chicago and Minnesota.

In addition, Detroit News reported learning of at least one other person under investigation in New York.

Smith is arguing for Nagarwala’s release, pending the Oct. 10 trial date, denying the government’s claim that Nagarwala performed the procedure on at least 100 girls.

“There is also absolutely no evidence to support the government’s statement that Dr. Nagarwala cut the genitals of dozens of victims,” Smith wrote. “When the government makes claims like it ‘estimates’ that Dr. Nagarwala performed (female genital mutilation) on at least 100 minor girls, the government is unable to support the assertion and certainly has provided no discovery to support the claim.”

Smith also denied that any girls have suffered complications from the procedure.

“Not one (girl) in this case has suffered any such complication, contrary to the government’s generalization,” Smith wrote. “Assumedly, the government is putting forth such information in an effort to show the harm (female genital mutilation) may cause; however, such assertions are not relevant to the matter before the court when not one person has any documented complications outlined by the government.”

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